Apparatus for indicating direction of rotation of motors.



No. 637,873. Patented Nov. 28, 1899.

H. KAHLER. APPARATUS FOR INOIOATING DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1899.)

(In Model.)

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UNITED STATES HINRIOH KAHLER, OF

HAMBURG, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR lNDlCATlNG DIRECTION OF ROTATION 0F MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming M of Letters Patent No. 637,873, dated November 28, 1899.

Application filed April '7J 1899. Serial No. 712,130. (No model.)

T0 at whmn it may concern/.-

Be it known that L-HINRICH KAHLER, a cilizen of the German Empire, and a resident of Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Direction of Rotation of Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for indicating the direction of rotation of motors of all kinds, and particularly of marine engines, thus informing the helmsman whether the engineer has understood and carried out his orders.

The apparatus comprises two levers, one of which is connected with the reversing-gear mechanism, while the other is connected to the indicator-rod of the engine. The former is shifted only when the engine is reversed; but the latter is continuously oscillated to oscillate a pair of contact-arms and cause either one or the other of them to make and break contact with the lever connected to the reversing-gear. This will cause either the backward or the forward indicating mechanism to be set by an electric current, so that the movement of the engine is automatically indicated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus; Fig. 2, an elevation of the indicating mechanism set thereby; Fig. 3, a plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a section on line a: 50, Fig. 2.

Within the chest at, which is placed near the engine or is affixed to the cylinder, are secured two shafts b and c. The shaft 1) carries a two-armed lever e, the lower arm of which is connected by rod 61 to the reversinggear shaft. In order to permit the connection between the parts 01 e to be adjusted, they are slotted and connected by a bolt engaging the slots, as shown.

Upon the shaft 0 are fitted two lever-arms or tappets ff of equal length, connected to a third lever-arm g, which receives oscillating motion by rod h from the indicator-rod or other mechanism actuated by the piston. The tappets f f are each placed at an angle of about one hundred and twenty degrees to the arm 9 and will by motion of rod h be simultaneously rocked. Contact A arms 7t, suspended from bolts i between frames 'm,

are adapted to make contact with the tappets f f, respectively, the arms being connected to each other and to the chest by means of springs Z. These springs are of equalstrength and neutralize mutually their expansion, so that but little power is required to actuate the arms 70 7c. The arm 7.; is by wire 70 connected to lamp (1 in the backward compartment of the indicator. This lamp also connects by wires 0' 6 battery E and wire 0 with the lever e. The arm 7c is by wire k connected to the lamp q in the forward compartment of the indicator. This lamp also connects by wires 6 c battery E and wire a with the lever c.

If the motor is going forward, the lever c assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. The arm 7t" will by the lever g be so rocked that it will alternately make and break contact with the lever c at each stroke of the piston. This will cause a constant glimmer to be diffused through the forward chamber by lamp q, thus indicating that the engine is going forward. At the command .backward the lever c is thrown into contact with arm 7t, and thus the glimmer will be produced by the lamp q in the backward chamber.

The indicating mechanism consists of a case a, divided by partition 01 into two chambers and provided with a cover 0, having a translucent glass plate 19. The chambers inclose the lamps q g, respectively, which are attached to the bottom plate 01* of the case. The glass pane 19 may be provided above the lamps q q with marks, words, or signs, indicating backward and forward motion, respectively. The cover 0 turns on a hinge o and is tightly closed by a screw 0 My improved apparatus besides indicating the direction of motion permits the rotation of the engine to be accurately ascertained, and thus serves also as an indicator for the speed of the revolutions.

What I claim is l. A motion-indicator composed of a pair of contact-arms adapted to be oscillated by a motor, a lever set by the shifting-gear, an indicator, and electric connections between the indicator, lever and contact-arms, substantially as specified.

2. A motion-indicator composed of a pair of pivoted contact-arms, a lever-arm actu 2 ea ners ated by the piston of a motor, tappets opercomposed of a pair of lanips, and electric c01i- 1o ated by the lever and adapted to oscillate nections between the lamps, lever and con the contact-arms, a lever set by the shiftingtact-arn1s, substantially as specified.

gear, an indicator, and electric connections Signed by me at Hamburg, Germany, this between the indicator, lever and contact- 23d day of March, 1899.

arms, substantially as specified. HINRIOH KAHLERa 3. The combination of a pair of contact- Witnesses:

arlns adapted to be oscillated by a motor, with W. T. E. KOCH,

a lever set by the shifting-gear, an indicator E. H. L. MUMMENHOFF. 

